$TiO_2$ 농도 및 여기광에 따른 광촉매 반응이 Streptococcus mutans의 생장에 미치는 영향

Influence of $TiO_2$ Concentrations and Irradiation Lights on the Photocatalytic Reaction for Inhibiting Growth of Streptococcus mutans

본 연구는 광촉매 반응을 이용하여 치아우식증의 주요 원인균인 S. mutans를 조절하기 위한 새로운 방법을 제안하고자 기존 이산화 티타늄 광촉매에 주로 사용되었던 자외선영역의 광원과 현재 임상현장에서 활용되고 있는 405 nm의 가시광선 빛에 의한 광촉매 반응을 유도하여 항균효과를 비교하였다. 우선 최적의 이산화 티타늄 농도를 탐색한 결과 254 nm 또는 405 nm 빛 조사시 0.1 mg/ml의 농도에서 S. mutans에 대한 항균력이 각각 93%와 24%로 가장 높게 나타났다. 또한 광조사 시간과 S. mutans에 대한 항균력은 정비례 관계를 보였으며, 254 nm의 빛은 20분 이상, 그리고 405 nm의 빛은 40분 이상 조사할 경우 $10^4CFU/ml$ 정도의 생균이 완전히 사멸되는 결과를 확인하였다. 따라서 이산화티타늄의 광촉매 반응은 인체에 무해한 405 nm의 가시광선으로 유도될 수 있으며, 향후 항균력을 보다 증가시킬 수 있는 방법을 고안 한다면 임상현장에서 효과적으로 구강 내 S. mutans를 억제하는 데 활용이 가능할 것으로 예상된다.

The aim of this study was to evaluate influences of titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) concentrations and irradiation times on growth of Streptococcus mutans when irradiated by visible light (405 nm wavelength) and by ultraviolet light (254 nm wavelength). To find the optimal antibacterial concentration of $TiO_2$, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/ml $TiO_2$ suspension was prepared with sterilized distilled water. S. mutans cultured media was added to $TiO_2$ solution to set the final cell count to $10^4CFU/ml$. The photocatalytic reaction was induced by irradiating 254 nm and 405 nm lights for 10 minutes. To compare the bactericidal activities according to irradiation times, all photocatalytic reaction was carried out with 0.1 mg/ml $TiO_2$ for 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes with both lights. After the photocatalytic reaction, $100{\mu}m$ of the reaction mixture was immediately plated on brain heart infusion agar. These plates were placed at 5% $CO_2$, $37^{\circ}C$, for 24 hours and the bacterial colonies were counted. All experiments were performed in quintuplicate. One-way ANOVA was used to determine whether there were any significant differences between the $TiO_2$ concentrations or the irradiation times. The most effective concentration of $TiO_2$ for its photocatalytic bactericidal effect on S. mutans was 0.1 mg/ml when irradiated with 254 nm and 405 nm lights. The longer the irradiation time, the bigger the bactericidal effect for both wavelengths. Over 99% of bacteria in the inoculum were killed after irradiation with 254 nm for 20 minutes and with 405 nm for 40 minutes. In conclusion, a photocatalytic reaction of $TiO_2$ induced by visible light of 405 nm constitutes the bactericidal effect on S. mutans.